Expert: Michalene Peticca - 5/14/2011

Question
My dad was diagnosed with moderate-severe Alzeimers in August 2008 after getting lost for 5 days. He can still remember and recognise my mum and me and has no other physical ailments. I am an only daughter who has to work so the burden of caring for my dad on weekends falls entirely on my mum (during weekdays, he is sent to a day care centre). His biggest problem is that he likes to go out of the house but my mum is getting frailer and has problems taking him out all day. I would like to know how long does it typically take before he becomes immobile so we can easily get a domestic help for him and whether it is suitable to send him to a elderly home at this stage.

Answer
Hello Lily,

Thank you for writing.  As you know, Alzheimer's individuals have a progressive overall decline due to brain deterioration.   Each person has similiar characteristics, but each person progresses in thier own unique way.  It would be very hard to pinpoint how long it will be until your father is immobile.  It may be a year, it may be 2 years from now.

However, some thoughts on his current situation:  Becoming immobile requires More care due to a total need to dressing, bathing, eating.  You would also need to turn and position him frequently or he will get skin breakdown and wounds with can become infected.

The more important question here is about your father going to a aged home at this time.  Yes, if the strain on caregiving is such that it is affecting your mother's health and your health and you all feel it would give your father a better quality of life, than by all means i would suggest looking into that option.

I hope this gives you some thinking room.

Best Regards,
Michalene Peticca, MA